NBA fines three coaches

NEW YORK, April 29 (UPI) -- The NBA has fined three coaches -- Rick Adelman, Nate McMillan and Doc Rivers -- $25,000 each for publicly criticizing referees during the playoffs.

The coaches were fined for comments made after games.

They fines were handed down by Stu Jackson, the league's executive vice president of basketball operations.

"I don' think there was anything that was disrespectful," the Portland Trail Blazers' McMillan told the Oregonian regarding his comments about inconsistent officiating in a series with the Houston Rockets.

McMillan also had said comments by Adelman, of Houston, were designed to influence the officials.

"I was shocked," Adelman said. "(Their) big men were 'manhandling' Yao Ming. I had no idea it was coming."

"It's gamesmanship," Houston forward Shane Battier told the Chronicle Tuesday. "If you're not doing it, you're not trying."

"I'm the human stimulus package," the Boston Celtics' Rivers told the Boston Herald after his latest fine increased his total to $65,000 this season.